Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1887-03-26
LOCAL ART AND ARTISTS.
A Visit TO the studio of HIr. Harry
Culmer.

A Visit to the studio of HIr. Harry
Culmer.
Mr.. Harry Culmer is young gentle
man who has made rapid progress in
the last few years in the art of painting,
and his pictures are greatly admired by
all who see them, and he is fast becom-
ing general favorite as a landscape
artist Having sold several paintings OF
late leaves his studio comparatively bare;
among those remaining are:
A scene near "Lake Florence" at the
head of the South Fork in Big Cotton
wood Canyon. This picture the artist
has just completed and is fine speci-
men OF art. In the distance are four or
five rocky peaks painted with atmos-
phereic effect, making them appear true
to nature. The middle distance is made
of groves of pine trees and cliffs of grey
and brown rocks which has been very
carefully handled by the artist, and have
very pretty effect. Probably the most
striking feature in the picture is a huge
cliff of rock towering up into the sky;
here is where the artist has certainly ex-
celled Mr. Culmer had been noted for
some time past as skillful rock painter
and in this, his latest effort, he has GER
tainly beaten his former record the SUM-
light effect on the rock is very striking.
the cleavages and the detail in shadow
have been skillfully handled; in the
center of the picture is a beautiful water
fall running over cliff of rocks, to the
left of the fall is a clump of quaking asp
trees, they stand out in bold relief, and
the work on them is exceedingly we'll
done. The foreground consists of bushes
and rocks with here and there a bunch
of bright flowers, all of which have been
deiicately handled and are true to nature.
The picture does Mr.. Culmer much credit
and the purchaser should feel congratu-
lated in obtaining such a handsome pic
ture.
LAKE MARY.
This subject has always been consid-
cred, by our local artists, as being very
difficult to handle, and the effect under
which the artist has painted it makes it
still more difficult. The sketch was
taken Just after storm and the noun
tains and trees in the distance and mid
die distance are shrouded in a heavy
mist; the sky is a cold gray color with
few fleece clouds which appear
to be drifting around the lofty
peaks precisely as they are seen in our
mountains after q storm. The cliffs in
the middle distance have been worked
up with wonderful skill the granite cliffs
surrounding the lake, the island and the
foliage throughout are all excellently
painted "Lake Mary" is a fine picture,
and the artist has displayed great deal
of talent If painting it, and any person
who has ever seen the lake will at once
recognize it and cannot help but gaze
upon it with admiration. 1t is not only
an excellent piece Of work, but truthful
likeness of the place. Mr.. Culmer has
of late been turning his attention to
figure painting, the latest of his efforts
in this direction is "The Captains
Daughter" 1t represents a young girl
about IL years old sitting by the sea
shore with a number of shells in her lap;
her eyes are large, dark and lustrous,
| and their expression is very fine; the
features are rounded and of a Gypsy
cast the long coils of black hair and the
costume have been carefully painted. The
subject was taken from life, but
the artist meant it for funny picture
only, but it is nevertheless a true like
ness of the young lady, whose name we
Withhold on account of her extreme mod
esty. Figure painting is almost a new
branch OF art to Mr.. Culmer, but the
Captains Daughter is fine specimen of
figure painting, and evinces talent in
that line ofno ordinary kind. We predict
that before long Mr.. Culmer will be
ranked among our leading figure paint
ers. Mr.. Culmer is careful and pains
taking artist, and never takes picture
from his easel as long as he sees where
he can improve it.
HARRY SQUIREs.
The last piece of work from this gentle
mans easel has been on exhibition in
Mr.. Oberndorfer's window for some days.
The subject Lake Blanche" one of the
many beautiful lakes in the Wasatch
mountains. The picture shows one of
the 'Pillars of the Wasatch" rearing its
head skyward, while at its base nestles
beautiful lake. The work on this peak
shows careful study in cleavages and
strata. The sunlight effect has been
carefully and artistically worked up, and
one can almost see the glistening dew
drops upon the vegetation at its base.
In the middle distance is seen a beau
tiful cascade leaping over the rocky cliffs
into the lake below. To the right of the
waterfall are seen some bold rocks and
on the extreme right in a depression is a
grove of pines, which has been treated
with care and makes fine contrast, vet
nicely blended with the illumined peaks
above. To the left there is a series of
rolling hills, fit bases for the lofty kings
above.
At the foot OF one of these hills is seen
a loggers cabin, partly hidden by the
bold rocks which protect it on either side.
In front of this we have grassy slope
extending down to the edge of the lake.
On the extreme left, in the foreground is
two quaking asp trees, which for fidelity
to nature have rarely been excelled in
this region. The surface of the Lake is
smooth and calm and in it are re-
aected the pine grove and the great
boulders on the right. The gen.
tIeman is making rapid progress,
and while there may be tech
nical inaccuracies in the work, they
are of minor importance compared with
its many excellent features.